Month: November 2013

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Healthcare is an important part of our economy

Healthcare is one of the most important parts of our economy. No matter where you live, the healthcare industry employs more people than any other industry. Likewise, when it comes to technology, the healthcare industry is at the head of the class. Medical technology helps in many different ways, from CAT scans, ultrasounds and MRI’s that diagnose problems inside the body or monitor a child before it is born, to the computers that keep our information and data organized. This technology allows us easier access in almost every possible way. Improving healthcare around the world has become a global focus. Information technology is on the forefront of that care. Sharing data from country to country and city to city to keep our citizens safe from disease and epidemics as well as normal healthcare.

The electronic medical records software is imperative for doctors and nurses to keep our records and monitor our progress. Without this software, we would still have to deal with lost or misplaced files that could mean a serious loss of time and test results. Today when you go to the doctor, you rarely ever see a paper file. There are laptops in every room, or the nurses carry I Pads to keep track of all your records and results. The new software and technology helps to cut down their time spent inputting data. This allows them to complete their jobs quicker and allow for the doctors to see more patients. Considering the rapidly growing population, it is imperative that time saving technologies be learned and used to the best advantage. Believe it or not, it also saves the environment as well, since they only print out what is absolutely necessary to give to you, thereby saving trees from being cut down unnecessarily.

As new technology is invented and implemented, sometimes we get to try new things. The new Google Glass is one such technology that looks to be very promising. This technology could help nurses and doctors to get information the very second it is uploaded and available. For instance; If a doctor in a emergency room or operation room is in need of certain test results and has the Google Glass, he/she can immediately access the results the minute the they are available. This could help to save a persons life, especially in an ER where finding out a persons blood type before giving them blood could mean life or death for that patient.

Not all areas of the medical fields are thrilled with the new gadgets that come out. They can be very resistant to “change”, especially in the older generations, but time has already proven that the more we go forward, the better off mankind is as a whole. The old adage that it is hard to teach on old dog new tricks simply doesn’t apply any longer. In a world of new and rapidly growing technology, it is a keep up mentality. While this may make it necessary for continuing education, the advantages are clear.

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Black Friday Deals

You can wait for the best Black Friday deals, or you can go to Pottery Barn Kids to get what you need to decorate your children’s bedrooms. As Mom’s, we know that finding the best deal helps us stay within our budget’s and save money for the things that matter the most to our families. We also have that latent talent for DIY when it comes to home decor that is trendy and functional. DIY home decor is accomplished in many different ways.  We can build our own wall organizer’s or create cute little nick knacks with our kids to grace the shelves.

When decorating your child’s bedroom, you should really take into account not only what you like, but their own personality as well. Let them help pick out the colors. They all have a favorite color and you can make it work for both of you. Even at four years old, children have an opinion about what they like. Allowing them to pick out stuff when you shop is lots of fun for them and you might be surprised to learn something about your child’s likes and dislikes that you didn’t know. Boy’s may love that super hero, but would rather have a truck theme to his room. Likewise, girls all love the princesses, but really want puppies and kittens on their walls.

Let them help with the painting. That is what drop clothes and tape are for. If you allow them to help, they are less likely to get in the way and make a mess. It will also give them a great big feeling of accomplishment as well as pride in the finished room. You don’t have to be elaborate, just be creative. Paint those kittens yourself. They don’t have to be perfect and if you draw them on the wall first, your child can help with those as well. You can even find DIY wall murals that come with a Paint-by-number easy to do for both you and your child.

No matter your budget, try not to go overboard. Pirate ships and castles are great, but not very practical. You want your child to use their imagination as much as possible, give them a room that will help them create their own world. A large area of the wall for dry erase or chalk board is a great idea to help preserve your walls and still allow them to be creative as well. Perhaps another spot for all of those stickers them bring home from school. Then they have a place to collect them and see them daily.

Whatever you do, don’t forget the storage space for all of those little bits and pieces. Shelves with colored containers that can keep everything organized, is an amazing asset to any children’s room. They don’t have to be large and can be put just about anywhere along the walls or even in the closet. This helps them to be able to put things away much easier later one as you are teaching them to pick up after playtime is over.

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Breakfast meeting

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am not a morning person. I do not wake up perky and ready to run. It takes me a while to shuffle around, make a pot of coffee, dress, walk the dogs and after all that I slowly become human.

So when Linda Bradshaw told me the only time she had available to see me while she was in town this week for her convention would be a breakfast meeting, I almost said, “No.” But, she is a friend from back in the day who I have kept in touch with by email and occasional phone call. I really want to see her while she is here, even if only for an hour at breakfast. So tomorrow, I will be a forced -into-early-pleasantness person and choke down some hotel hotel eggs and bacon so I can have an hour of quality time with my girlfriend.

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Everyone loves music

Everyone loves music, but children are especially drawn to it. They love to dance and sing and do it often and loudly. If you have children, you already know this. They start with the lullabyes we sing them and move on to the preschool songs we play them and that they hear on preschool TV shows like Jacks Big Music show and the Wiggles are excellent examples.

Encouraging music in your children will help them developmentally. Children who play and sing regularly are more inclined to do better in school. They read better, are better at math and science and generally get along better with other children. They are much more likely to go to college as well.

As a parent we begin teaching our children long before they ever reach a classroom. We teach them their first language and many times their second one as well in multilingual households.  Giving them a wide variety of musical genres is great for them. Whether you are playing music in the car or as you clean your house, they watch, listen and learn from everything you do. Having them take music classes at some point in their childhood is a phenomenal way to assure that they will be successful in life as musically oriented children tend to make better life choices later on.

When you choose and instrument for your child, take them to a music store with instructors and let the kids play with a few instruments to see what they like the most. This will let you know exactly where their interests lie and just what they can actually handle at their given age. There are certain instruments that will be too heavy for them, or for their small hands to handle. Also, there are a lot of instruments that have “child size” for those little guys to actually be able to learn on and play with proficiency. Violins are a perfect example of that. They come in really small sizes that are perfect for little fingers to play.

The violin is not easy to learn though. At least not as easy as learning the guitar, because drawing the bow across the strings is more difficult than plucking or strumming the strings is. Piano is a common instrument for children to begin learning to play, however if you don’t have one at home and can’t afford to buy one for them to practice on, you probably should choose something else. Learning to play an instrument requires lots and LOTS of practice.

Most schools have music class and usually the children learn how to play the recorder at some point, but it is not the same as private lessons. They do not get the one on one attention in a school classroom as they do from a private instructor. Add to that the music teachers in the school do not teach a variety of instruments either. It is very basic and only teaches them about music in general. Bear this in mind when you make your decision on whether or not to have them take lessons.

 

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Selling a home can be difficult

Selling a home can be a difficult prospect. Attracting potential buyers takes a little bit of work, some of it yours and sometimes from a professional. Take a good look at the exterior of your home and use a critical eye. Figure out what you like and don’t like about your homes exterior so that you know what changes need to be made. Also make sure to note anything that is worn or broken, so that they can be repaired or replaced.

You can get rid of mold and mildew by using a pump spray bottle with a mixture of bleach and water. Saturate the area and then pressure wash the exterior of your home to make sure that it and any dirt are all removed.  AJ’s Windows and Gutters can help you fix or replace those windows and gutters that need help.  AJ’s Windows and Gutters in Chicago will wash all the windows, repair screens and storm doors as well as repair or install gutters and down spouts. They can also do the pressure washing as well, if you do not want to do it yourself.

Cleaning up your yard by mowing, weeding and raking will make a tremendous improvement if you haven’t already done it. This should be maintained throughout your entire process of selling your home. Don’t over do it with lawn decorations either. You wouldn’t want the yard to look cluttered. Many buyers will do drive bys to see the exterior of the home after work. Some lights along the walk or driveway will make it look really good in the dark or fading light. Don’t forget your backyard as well. It should be neat as a pin so that potential buyers get a good impression.

After you have pressure washed the house, you may find that a coat of paint is necessary as well. A new door can make the front of your home look great, but if you cannot afford the cost of one, a little paint and a new door knob and lock will make it look much better. You may have to sand it down really good first if it has any pits or scratches.

If you have made any improvements to your home, like additions, extensions or renovations, those will definitely help you to sell the home and make sure that the value of your home is up. Be sure that those renovations were done correctly, because poorly done ones will make the house look ratty. You may want to clean out the closets attic and garage. Investing in a storage unit for those things that you don’t want to get rid of. Buyers want to be able to see how much space is in your home and it shouldn’t be cluttered.

One last thing, when you have your home on the market, sometimes a realtor will call last minute to show your home. Be careful what you cook. Strong odors can be a big turn off especially fish, cabbage and such. Use air fresheners regularly to keep your home smelling clean and fresh.